Investment in a U.S. Machine Vision Startup
Enhanced Performance Compared to Conventional Robot Vision Sensors
Open Call for Startups in the Physical AI Sector
Naver D2SF has made a new investment in the U.S.-based machine vision startup, Summer Robotics. Naver D2SF is Naver's corporate venture capital (CVC) arm, which invests in and nurtures early-stage, technology-driven startups.
Summer Robotics, led by CEO Skyler Cullen, is a startup headquartered in California, United States. The Series A round, in which Naver D2SF participated, was led by Applied Ventures.
Summer Robotics possesses rare technology, having developed a new approach to vision sensors that serve as the "eyes" of robots. Unlike conventional robot sensors that rely on cameras, Summer Robotics utilizes a laser event sensor that detects light responses in microseconds. This enables the sensor to operate four times faster than traditional robot vision sensors, achieve ultra-precise measurements at the 0.1 mm level, and improve power and data efficiency.
'Kortx,' developed by Summer Robotics, is a solution that allows robots to be controlled even in dynamic and unstructured environments. The company has successfully automated tasks such as dynamic assembly, quality inspection, and parts handling in manufacturing, logistics, automotive, and semiconductor sectors.
The co-founding team of Summer Robotics has accumulated over 20 years of technical research and product leadership experience in artificial intelligence (AI), machine vision, and robotics. Skyler Cullen, CEO of Summer Robotics, stated, "Korea is a global leader in advanced manufacturing and innovation, as well as a significant opportunity market. We will actively provide our machine vision technology to enable even faster and smarter robotics, and ultimately lead next-generation intelligent automation."
Park Yongjeong, Head of North America Investments at Naver D2SF, commented, "Summer Robotics is revolutionizing high-speed process operations in robot manufacturing sites, based on overwhelming technological competitiveness in the 3D vision sensor field compared to competitors. They have implemented a new way for robots to understand the physical world, and we expect them to quickly establish a strong presence in the global market."
Meanwhile, Naver D2SF has continued to invest in the robotics sector, including Clobot, the first robot software company to be listed on KOSDAQ, and Saftics, which predicts and verifies robot stability using AI.
Recently, Naver D2SF has also begun an open call for startups seeking new investment in the physical AI field. The company plans to consider investments across the entire physical AI value chain, from hardware to intelligence and applications. Detailed information can be found on the Naver D2SF website until the 23rd of next month.
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